KNOT: A Wake Family Novel (32 page)

ME: I could take off if that makes anything easier.

NORA: An extra-long weekend? That’s so not like you.

It wasn’t, but a lot of things weren’t like me. Why not add another to the list?

NORA: I can take it off.

ME: Perfect. I’ll get everything I need finished up today. Are you okay with a late dinner?

NORA: If it was anything like breakfast…

I laughed. She never failed to surprise me.

NORA: Send me a text when you know about what time. I’ll order something.

Knowing I’d have four whole days with her made the afternoon fly by.

“Okay. So about this weekend. What can I expect?” I had to ask. I was going to keep an open mind about everything, but I also didn’t want to look a fool going in blind. I needed time to acclimate with things, especially if this was going to be our first real test.

Still, I was sure I wouldn’t be okay with certain things.

I lifted the steak gyro to my mouth and waited for her to answer.

Across the table from me in her apartment, she crossed her legs under herself and wiped her mouth. Then she took a long drink and set her water back down.

“Well, we were invited by Janel and Ives. It’s about an hour north of the city. She sent me the address—by the way. I told her we would drive up on our own sometime tomorrow. Is that all right?”

I’d assumed they invited us, which was the immediate reason I agreed to it. If I wasn’t there and didn’t know what was going on, I would have lost my mind.

As far as driving went, I was fine with that, too. I valued having my own transportation.

“We can leave whenever you want. Who else is going?”

She gave me a cheesy grin. “I have no idea. Probably a few other couples they know. I’m not sure.”

“Is this like some swinger’s thing?” I had to know.

Her face fell but looked compassionate instead of angry.

“I don’t know, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see some of that. Will it bother you?”

“I don’t know. Will you want to participate?”

“I don’t know, but I have before. Are you sure you want to go?”

What she’d done before our compromise didn’t make me angry—not at all. I was logical. There was absolutely nothing I could do about the past. She wasn’t ashamed of her history, I respected that. I only wanted her to be proud of her present, too. More than anything, I wondered if I fit into her ideal future—and consequentially if she fit into mine.

“If you want to go, I’ll try. That’s all I can offer.” I sounded more cross than I felt.

“I’ve never asked for more than that,” she said, and it was true. “You’ll have your car if things change—“

Whoa
. I didn’t like the direction she was taking the conversation. So I’d interrupted with, “We can leave.”

She challenged, “Or
you
can leave.”

Was that what she was predicting? She still didn’t trust me.

I took a deep breath, noticing the impulse to count, but I was able to stow it. The medicine was helping.

It was crucial I said the right things.

She looked nervous. Gone was the fun and excitement she’d had buzzing around her when I walked in. That didn’t sit well with me. I didn’t want to bring her down.

“Okay, that’s a
possibility
,” I reasoned. “But not what I want. I’m interested in having a long, relaxing weekend away with you. And I’m looking forward to meeting your friends.
Please
understand I really want this to work. You can’t punish me for things I haven’t done yet. Have some faith in me.”

Would she always assume the worst?

She got up and walked her plate to the kitchen, and I stayed. I had more to eat, but I wasn’t all that hungry anymore.

I closed my eyes, still not counting, and took a deep breath.

When she came back, she moved my legs out from under the table, then straddled them.

“I’m sorry,” she said against my cheek before she planted a kiss there. “I hope you don’t want to leave, but you have to have faith in me, too. I know this is new for you, but I’ve never done this either. I’ve
never
brought someone on a trip like this. I especially wouldn’t throw you into the middle of some gang-bang. I don’t know what you’re imagining in this head of yours.” She lightly tapped my temple. “But it won’t be anything like that. I’ll be there with my lover. You’re my concern, not anyone else.”

She didn’t often speak like that, and it gave me optimism. This was tough stuff to deal with—but we were tougher.
I hoped.

“You’re not?” I tempted. Otherwise, I’d need to remind her whose name she’d screamed that morning.

I’d remind her anyway.

“I’m not. But, you never know, you might see something that looks interesting and let go of some your inhibitions.”

I wasn’t so sure, but she was giving me what I needed. Honesty.

So I’d give her what she needed that weekend. Understanding. After all, that’s what she was asking me for.

She wrapped her arms around my neck and leaned in for a kiss, taking my bottom lip between hers. Again she was trying to comfort me, and it always pleased me. Always worked.

She spoke around our kiss. “I already have my things packed. I’d like you to carry me down the hall—while it’s still just ours—and take me to bed.” She convincingly made her way down my neck, placed a kiss on my Adam’s apple, and then rubbed it with the pad of her thumb. Grey eyes met mine, and she added, “
Please
.”

How could one little word be so sexy?

Nora—Thursday, August 28, 2008

W
hy did saying please to him feel so good?

He was still bossy as ever—it was his nature—but the way he looked at me when I said that word made me want to say it over and over again. How it empowered him was such a turn on for me, and I didn’t understand why.

As my right hand fisted his sheets, it tumbled from me. “Please, Reagan.
Please
.” I needed him to fuck me. To fill me like only he did.

He reached up for my other hand, which was threaded through his hair, and kissed my fingers one by one.

“Are you ready for me, baby?” His eyes were caramel. His mouth slick with my wetness. His breath coming like he’d been swimming laps. Then he bit his lips, and after looking me in the eye, he made the call himself. “No, but you’re close.” Like the fiend he was, Reagan looked at me all the while licking and sucking at my clit again.

I watched. I could never help myself. The carnal way he looked at me was both overwhelming and the most erotic thing I’d ever laid eyes on. How passionate he was about pleasing me with every move he made. It was incredibly powerful.

Then I felt two fingers slip inside me. I believe I levitated when I heard him growl as I came on his hand and in his mouth. You’d never convince me otherwise.

“Wow.” The estate we were pulling into was impressive. I’d been to many nice places, but I hadn’t been expecting that when we accepted their invitation. The mansion was almost as big as my father’s. Well,
mine
.

Reagan drove up to the gate, stopping next to a speaker in his new SUV—which I liked better because I could hold his hand while he drove. Before he rolled down the window to press the button, he asked, “You ready for this?”

Was
I
ready? Here I’d been nervous for him, but all day he seemed right as rain. I had a pit in my stomach.

“I’m ready. How come you look so cool? Last night you were different.”

Lifting my hand to his mouth to kiss it, he said, “You stayed all night. I always feel better when I start the day with you in my bed.” He could charm Ben Franklin off a hundred-dollar bill, but he charmed me instead.

On cue, he lowered the window on his door and extended his long arm to push the button.

“Hello,” announced a gentleman through the box on the stone pillar.

Before speaking he cleared his throat, smiling my way the whole time. “Nora Koehl and Reagan Warren.”

“Welcome to Penelope Stables, sir. Just follow the drive, and we’ll get you parked.”

He grinned back over at me and winked. He was so carefree.

I couldn’t help but let some of my stress melt away. I was away on a weekend with the sex god of the north, and he looked happy. I could relax.

“Come on, baby. Let’s have some fun,” he coaxed, accurately reading me like he often did. Then he shifted the gear into drive with his left hand to avoid breaking our connection in the middle and let off the brake.

When Reagan Warren wanted to have fun, it was irresistible. Irre-
fucking
-sistable.

We pulled around a large fountain to a waiting Janel and Ives. Reagan took the counterclockwise lane to pull up on my side. He was made of manners; I’d expected nothing less.

Here we go.

As soon as the SUV was in park, Ives was opening my door.

I glanced across the seat, and he gave me an encouragingly, long contented blink. The silent equivalent to:
Why are you waiting? Just
go
.
You’re okay.
It gave me relief when I was in need.

He wouldn’t let me down. I hoped I could do the same for him.

I’d been worried he would act—well, frankly—jealous. He was already proving me wrong.

“Hello, Nora,” Ives greeted, and I took his hand to help me down in my heels. Quickly, I was out of the car, standing on a wide step that lead up to six more in front of the massive door.

Janel kissed my cheek, and I held my hand out to Reagan as he handed the key off to a gentleman in a white button down shirt and nicely pressed shorts.

I’d keep my word,
proudly
.

“Janel and Ives Bergeron, this is my lover, Reagan Warren.”

His chest puffed—maybe I imagined the swell of his presence, but I doubt it—and he let go of me, extending a hand out to my longtime friend.

“It’s nice to finally meet you. Thank you so much for the invitation.”

Ives slapped him on the back good-naturedly and replied, “Oh, please. Our Nora has impeccable taste. Any friend of hers is a friend of ours.”

“Are you the first to arrive?” I asked speedily. Ives was being polite, but what he’d said sounded frightfully close to innuendo. Then again, he was European and almost everything he said in English sounded like that.